This is a story about the giant engineering firm recently described as “a signature Canadian company” based in Montreal — why yes, it is SNC-Lavalin — and another, smaller but successful company based in Mississauga, Ont.The former has been in the news for months, but most recently because the CBC recently obtained a secret list of the names of key SNC executives who allegedly made bogus political donations, mostly to the federal Liberal party.
Compare all that to the treatment accorded David Del Mastro and his electrical/energy company, Deltro Ltd. He was acquitted of all charges after the judge ruled prosecutors couldn’t use evidence improperly seized in a raid on Deltro’s offices.According to an agreed statements of facts introduced at David’s trial, more than a dozen employees of Deltro, or their relatives, each donated $1,000 to Del Mastro’s campaign or his riding association and were then all reimbursed $1,050 by Deltro Ltd.The total potential election result affected was one in one federal election.
“We asked very early on in the process if we could discuss a compliance agreement,” said Jeffrey Ayotte, the Peterborough lawyer who represented Dean Del Mastro.